If you are caught in the path of a tornado, there is little you can do to protect yourself. The winds will pick you up and carry you away before depositing you somewhere far away from where the tornado touched down. Injuries sustained while in the path of a tornado can be severe and often fatal.
The best thing to do is if you can curl into a ball and protect your head and neck. Hold on to anything you can and don’t look away from the tornado. If you are caught in a mobile home, motel, or other building with no roof, lie down on the floor and cover your head with your hands.
The first thing to know is that tornadoes don’t generally pick people up. They spin around, they suck in things, and they blow stuff around. But, they don’t pick up people.
If you do happen to be in a tornado, here are some things to know:
• Tornadoes often travel in a counterclockwise motion, and there’s no reason to believe that they will start going clockwise in your direction.
• Tornadoes move fast, but they don’t usually move very far.
• If you are in a vehicle, stop and stay put. If the road looks like it will take you out of the storm, turn around. Don’t try to outrun it.
• If you are in a house, stay in an interior room, away from windows, doors, and outside walls.
• If the house begins to take a direct hit, run for the basement or the lowest point of the house, such as a crawl space.
• If you are in the basement, stay there. The safest place to be during a tornado is in a basement.
• If you are in the open air, you may be able to find shelter in an interior room, such as a closet or bathroom.
• If you are in an enclosed building with no windows, such as a garage or shed, you will be safer than if you are in a building with windows.
• If you are in the open air and there’s no building to go to, you are probably better off staying right where you are.
• If you are in a vehicle, stay in the car and keep the windows closed.
• If you are in a vehicle and see a tornado, turn your steering wheel to the right (counterclockwise) and roll down your windows.
What is a tornado?
A tornado is a fast moving wind that occurs when warm moist air moves upwards to form clouds. A tornado is a rare weather phenomenon, typically occurring over the oceans, but there are some tornadoes that occur over land. Tornadoes can occur anywhere, but most of them are found over the oceans or plains.
Tornadoes are often classified as small, moderate, or large. Small tornadoes have winds of around 110 miles per hour, moderate tornadoes have winds of around 170 miles per hour, and large tornadoes have winds of around 260 miles per hour.
You can survive a tornado, but it depends on where the tornado is located, how long it lasts, and how much damage it does. When a tornado strikes, it can travel several hundred miles, and last for several minutes. Once the tornado reaches a location, it begins to pick up debris and people that are outdoors, including animals and buildings. After the tornado dissipates, the people who survived are then able to go back to their normal lives.
If you live in a rural area, there is a chance that the tornado could touch down in your town. If this happens, you should stay inside a sturdy building with shutters. If you cannot find a building, you should lie down in a safe area. Try to protect your head and neck by covering your face with your hands. If the tornado gets very close to you, you may need to take cover in a vehicle, ditch, or sturdy building.
If you are in a city, you may be able to feel the effects of a tornado before you see it. If the air pressure changes, you may hear a loud noise. You may also see flashes of light. If you see a funnel cloud, you should move to a basement or interior room in your home. If you do not see a funnel cloud, you should not panic and instead just wait for the storm to pass. If you see the tornado, you should seek shelter in a sturdy building or ditch.
If a tornado touches down near you, you should get to a shelter as quickly as possible. Once you arrive at a shelter, you should look for shelter in a room that has a strong roof and walls. Try to stay as far away from windows as possible. If the tornado gets closer, try to take cover under a heavy piece of furniture or a table. If you are in a vehicle, you should take cover under the hood, in the back, or in the trunk of the car.
By and Large
If you are ever caught in a tornado, remember to stay calm and shelter in place. Do not try to run away from the tornado, as it is unlikely that you will outrun it. If you are picked up by the tornado, remember to relax and tuck your chin into your chest. Try to brace yourself for landing, and hope for the best.
